Automated Timing Systems and Methods Having Multiple Time Event Recorders and an Integrated User Time Entry Interface

• US 20120025944A1
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Timing Systems LLC
• Inventors: Hansen, Kurt S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,076,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.21
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Systems and methods for timing of a passing of an object past a monitored location where the monitored location is being monitored by timing system having at least one automated object detection system for wirelessly detecting the passing of the object at the monitored location. The system comprises a remote entry computer system having a processor for executing computer executable instructions, a clock for determining a present time, a user interface for receiving user input data, a memory being a computer readable medium storing the computer executable instructions and the received user input data, and a communications interface for communicating with the timing system. The system includes a computer readable medium including the computer executable instructions for performing the method of receiving the user input data at the user interface, receiving from the clock a user data input time associated with the receipt of the received user input data at the user interface, and storing the received user input data and the user data input time in the memory. The computer executable instructions also include the method of creating a received user data message including the stored user input data and a time value as a datagram message and transmitting the user data message over the communications interface to the timing system.

Claims

1. A system for timing of a passing of an object past a monitored location where the monitored location is being monitored by a timing system having at least one automated object detection system for wirelessly detecting the passing of the object at the monitored location;

the system comprising;

a remote entry computer system having a processor for executing computer executable instructions, a clock for determining a present time, a user interface for receiving user input data, a memory being a computer readable medium storing the computer executable instructions and the received user input data, and a communications interface for communicating with the timing system,

wherein the remote entry computer system has computer readable medium including the computer executable instructions for performing the actions of;

receiving the user input data at the user interface;

receiving from the clock a user data input time associated with the receipt of the received user input data at the user interface;

storing the received user input data and the user data input time in the memory;

creating a received user data message including the stored user input data and a time value as a datagram message; and

transmitting the received user data message over the communications interface to the timing system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer executable instructions further include performing the actions of:

storing in the memory an offset time value;

determining an adjusted time from the user data input time and the stored offset time value, wherein the creating of the received user data message includes the adjusted time as the time value.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the user interface is configured for receiving the offset time value that is subsequently stored in the memory.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the remote entry computer system further includes a GPS receiver for determining a current location of the remote entry computer system, wherein the computer executable instructions further include performing the action of determining the offset time value based on the determined current location.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the memory includes a stored GPS location of the monitored location and wherein the determining of the offset time value is based on the stored GPS location of the monitored location.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the communication interface is configured for receiving the offset time value that is subsequently stored in the memory.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is configured for receiving a clock synchronization message including a system time value from the timing system, and wherein the clock is configured to set the present time of the clock to the value of the received system time value.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is configured to receive a verification message, wherein the computer executable instructions include the actions of:

creating an verification response message in response to receiving the verification message; and

transmitting the verification response message over the communication interface after the creating thereof.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes a key pad and wherein the user input data is selected from the group consisting of an identification number associated with the object and a name associated with the object.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the user input data includes an identification number associated with the object, wherein the user interface includes a display, wherein the computer executable instructions include instructions for performing the action

transmitting an image request message including the identification number over the communication interface requesting an image file associated with the identification number;

receiving an image message including the requested image file over the communication interface; and

displaying on the display of the user interface an image contained in the received image file.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is a wireless interface for wirelessly communicating with the timing system.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the wireless interface is a Wi-Fi interface.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the user data message is a state-less UDP message and the communication interface is a state-less UDP network interface.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the computer executable instructions in include performing the actions of:

determining a lapse of time since the transmitting of the user data message; and

retransmitting the user data message over the communications interface after the determined lapse of time has met or exceeded a predetermined period of time.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote entry computer system is selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a smart phone and a tablet PC.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer executable instructions further include performing the actions of:

detecting a current inability of communicating with the timing system over the communication interface;

suppressing the transmitting of the user data message in response to the detecting of the current inability to communicate;

monitoring the status of the communication interface to determine a renewed ability to communicate with the timing system over the communication interface; and

identifying the renewed ability to communicate with the timing system, wherein transmitting occurs after the identification of the renewed ability to communicate.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the timing system is a sports timing system and wherein the object is an RFID tag associated with a participant in a timed sporting event and the automated object detection system is an RFID detection system for detecting the passing of the RFID tag at the monitored location.

18. A system for timing of a passing of an object past a monitored location, the system comprising:

a computer-implemented timing system having a data interface for communicating over a data communication network, a memory with executable instructions for operating the data interface to communicate and for storing an identification of the timing system, event data, and object data, the object data including an object identifier for uniquely identifying each object and object timing data, and a processor coupled to the memory and the data interface for executing the executable instructions for operating the data interface to communicate datagram messages over a stateless packet data communication network;

an object detection system communicatively coupled to the timing system and positioned at the monitored location, the object detection system having a processor, memory and communication interface; and

at least one antenna for wirelessly detecting a passing of the object by the monitored location; and

a remote entry computer system having a processor for executing computer executable instructions, a clock for determining a present time, a user interface for receiving user input data, a memory being a computer readable medium storing the computer executable instructions and the received user input data, and a communications interface for communicating with the timing system,

wherein the having computer readable medium including the computer executable instructions for performing the actions of;

receiving the user input data at the user interface;

receiving from the clock a user data input time associated with the receipt of the received user input data at the user interface;

storing the received user input data and the user data input time in the memory;

creating a received user data message including the stored user input data and a time value as a datagram message;

transmitting the user data message over the communications interface to the timing system;

wherein the timing system receives the transmitted user data message over the timing system data interface and wherein user input data is the object identifier and the time value is the object timing data.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the computer executable instructions of the remote entry computer system include performing the actions of:

storing in the memory of the remote entry computer system an offset time value; and

determining an adjusted time from the user data input time and the stored offset time value, wherein the creating of the received user data message includes the adjusted time as the time value.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the communication interface of the remote entry computer system is configured for receiving the offset time value that is subsequently stored in the memory.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the remote entry computer system further includes a GPS receiver for determining a current location of the remote entry computer system, wherein the computer executable instructions further include performing the action of determining the offset time value based on the determined current location.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the remote entry computer system memory includes a stored GPS location of the monitored location and wherein the determining of the offset time value is based on the stored GPS location of the monitored location.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the timing system determines the offset time value, creates a message including the determined offset time value, and transmits a message to the remote entry computer system including the offset time value, wherein the communication interface of the remote entry computer system is configured for receiving the message containing the offset time value and stores the received offset time value in the memory of the remote entry computer system.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the timing system determines the offset time value as a function of a parameter selected from the group consisting of a distance between the remote entry computer system and the monitored location;

a determined speed of one or more objects passing the monitored location; and

a determined change in speed of one or more objects passing the monitored location.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the object detection system determines the offset time value, creates a message including the determined offset time value, and transmits a message to the remote entry computer system including the offset time value, wherein the communication interface of the remote entry computer system is configured for receiving the message containing the offset time value and stores the received offset time value in the memory of the remote entry computer system.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the timing system determines the offset time value as a function of a parameter selected from the group consisting of a distance between the remote entry computer system and the monitored location;

a determined speed of one or more objects passing the monitored location; and

a determined change in speed of one or more objects passing the monitored location.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the TS and the object detection system is configured for generating a clock synchronization message, and wherein the communication interface of the remote entry computer system is configured for receiving the clock synchronization message including a system time value from the timing system, and wherein the clock is configured to set the present time of the clock to the value of the received system time value.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the TS and the object detection system is configured for generating a verification message, wherein the communication interface of the remote entry computer system is configured to receive a verification message, wherein the computer executable instructions of the remote entry computer system include the actions of:

creating an verification response message in response to receiving the verification message; and

transmitting the verification response message over the communication interface after the creating thereof.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein the user interface of the remote entry computer system includes a key pad and wherein the user input data is selected from the group consisting of an identification number associated with the object and a name associated with the object.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein the user input data of the remote entry computer system includes an identification number associated with the object, wherein the user interface includes a display, wherein the computer executable instructions include instructions for performing the actions of:

transmitting an image request message including the identification number over the communication interface of the remote entry computer system requesting an image file associated with the identification number;

receiving at the TS the image request message;

transmitting an image message containing the requested image file by the TS;

receiving the image message at communication interface of the remote entry computer including the requested image file over the communication interface; and

displaying on the display of the user interface of the remote entry computer system an image contained in the received image file.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein the communication interface of the remote entry computer system is a wireless interface for wirelessly communicating with the timing system and wherein at least one of the data interface of the TS and the communication interface of the object detection system include a wireless interface for communicating with the wireless interface of the remote entry computer system.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the wireless interface is a Wi-Fi interface.

33. The system of claim 18 wherein the user data message is a state-less UDP message and the communication interface of the remote entry computer system is a state-less UDP network interface.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the computer executable instructions of the remote entry computer system include performing the actions of:

determining a lapse of time since the transmitting of the user data message; and

retransmitting the user data message over the communications interface after the determined lapse of time has met or exceeded a predetermined period of time.

35. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote entry computer system is selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a smart phone and a tablet PC.

36. The system of claim 18 wherein the computer executable instructions of the remote entry computer system include performing the actions of:

detecting a current inability of communicating with the TS over the communication interface;

suppressing the transmitting of the user data message in response to the detecting of the current inability to communicate;

monitoring the status of the communication interface to determine a renewed ability to communicate with the timing system over the communication interface; and

identifying the renewed ability to communicate with the timing system, wherein transmitting occurs after the identification of the renewed ability to communicate.

37. The system of claim 18 wherein the TS is a sports timing system and wherein the object is an RFID tag associated with a participant in a timed sporting event and the object detection system is an RFID detection system for detecting the passing of the RFID tag at the monitored location.